wunder beta

♟️ Winning Chess Endgames

Master key chess endgame techniques for winning positions

13
lessons
~15 min
to learn
🔢 Math
subject
Adults
level
Start the course →

What you’ll learn

  1. What the Endgame IsUnderstand what the endgame is and why small advantages decide it.
  2. Activate Your KingLearn to centralize and use the king actively in the endgame.
  3. The OppositionUnderstand the opposition and how it forces the enemy king back.
  4. King and Pawn vs KingLearn when king and pawn wins and when the defender draws.
  5. Key SquaresUse key squares to plan a winning king-and-pawn endgame.
  6. The Rule of the SquareApply the rule of the square to judge pawn races at a glance.
  7. Passed Pawns Must Be PushedRecognize passed pawns and know why and how to advance them.
  8. The Rook Belongs Behind the PawnApply Tarrasch's rule of placing the rook behind the passed pawn.
  9. The Lucena PositionWin the Lucena rook endgame using the bridge-building technique.
  10. The Philidor PositionDefend with the Philidor third-rank technique to draw a rook ending.
  11. Queen vs Pawn on the SeventhLearn the checking technique and the pawns that draw anyway.
  12. Principles for Every EndgameApply the core endgame principles to any ending you reach.
  13. Converting a Winning EndgameConvert a material edge by simplifying into a known winning position.

Questions this course answers

What should your king usually do in the endgame?

With few enemy pieces left, the king becomes a strong piece and should centralize to support pawns and fight for squares.

Who holds the opposition when two kings face off with one square between them?

The side not forced to move holds the opposition; the king that must move has to give ground.

Which pawn is famously often a draw in king-and-pawn endgames?

Rook pawns are frequently drawn because the defending king cannot be forced out of the corner.

What happens if your king reaches one of the pawn's key squares?

Occupying a key square guarantees promotion regardless of the defense, which is why kings maneuver toward them first.

What does the rule of the square tell you?

If the king is inside (or can step into) the pawn's square, it catches the pawn; otherwise the pawn queens.

Where should you usually place your rook relative to a passed pawn?

Tarrasch's rule: the rook belongs behind the passed pawn, whether it's yours (to support) or the enemy's (to restrain).

Grounded in trusted sources

  • World Chess Federation (FIDE)
  • standard endgame theory (Lucena, Philidor, Tarrasch)

Every Wunder lesson is built from real, reputable sources — never invented.

Related Math courses

♟️Chess for Absolute Beginners♟️Chess Openings: The Best First Moves♟️Chess Tactics: Forks, Pins and Skewers♟️How to Think Like a Chess Player⭐Chinese Checkers for Absolute Beginners🌱The Magic of Compound Interest🔐Cryptography: The Math of Secrets🔢Decimals & Percents

Wunder is a personalized learn-anything platform — tell it any topic and it builds a beautiful, fact-checked course in minutes, with narration, a knowledge check, and a college-style University track.

Browse more Math courses · All topics · Home

© 2026 Wunder Learning LLC · Terms & Privacy